Journalist claims differences between head coach, selection committee already as Hesson drops big names

Sports journalist Qadir Khawaja has claimed a major disagreement between the selection committee and head coach Mike Hesson over the final squad for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh.

According to Khawaja, the differences emerged during their very first assignment together when the selection committee had finalised the team, but Hesson made last-minute changes, dropping three players and replacing them with his own picks.

Khawaja claims that the original squad included Abbas Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Haider Ali. However, head coach Mike Hesson opted for Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, and Naseem Shah instead. He added that Hesson insisted on retaining Naseem despite the selectors’ plan to rest both Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.

On Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 16-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Senior players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, were notably left out.

All three matches will be played at the historic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the full schedule expected to be released soon.

All-rounder Agha Salman has been appointed captain for the series, with experienced spinner Shadab Khan named vice-captain.

The squad features a mix of youth and experience, reflecting PCB’s strategy of grooming emerging talent for future international events while remaining competitive.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20I series:

Agha Salman (Captain), Shadab Khan (Vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Haris (Wicketkeeper), Muhammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (Wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub.

The PCB stated that the inclusion of younger players is part of a long-term vision to nurture fresh talent and provide them with opportunities on the international stage.

However, the board has not officially confirmed or denied these claims made by the journalist.